The Franco-German University (FGU, french: Université franco-allemande (UFA), german: Deutsch-Französische Hochschule (DFH)) is an international organisation of universities from Germany and France with the purpose of facilitating international cooperation in

higher education Higher education is tertiary education leading to award of an academic degree. Higher education, also called post-secondary education, third-level or tertiary education, is an optional final stage of formal learning that occurs after compl ...

. The FGU is not a university in its own right, but rather enables students to study at multiple universities in both countries in a Franco-German course of study, leading to a

double degree A double degree program, sometimes called a dual degree, combined degree, conjoint degree, joint degree or double graduation program, involves a student's working for two university degrees in parallel—either at the same institution or at diffe ...

History and organisation

In a first attempt at higher education cooperation, a ''Franco-German College for Higher Education'' (german: Deutsch-Französisches Hochschulkolleg, french: Collège franco-allemand pour l'enseignement supérieur) had existed since 1988. That organisation had similar goals, working to promote international academic cooperation and student exchanges. At the September 1997 Franco-German Summit in

Weimar Weimar is a city in the state of Thuringia, Germany. It is located in Central Germany between Erfurt in the west and Jena in the east, approximately southwest of Leipzig, north of Nuremberg and west of Dresden. Together with the neighbouri ...

, the French and German governments concluded the Weimar Agreement,
deciding to establish the Franco-German University with the intention of international cooperation. The agreement came into effect two years later when the Franco-German University was formally founded. The organisation is headed in day-to-day administration by a President and a Vice President, of whom one is always French and one is German; and a secretarial office in

Saarbrücken Saarbrücken (; french: link=no, Sarrebruck ; Rhine Franconian: ''Saarbrigge'' ; lb, Saarbrécken ; lat, Saravipons, lit=The Bridge(s) across the Saar river) is the capital and largest city of the state of Saarland, Germany. Saarbrücken is ...

. A primary governing body is the University Council, composed of 22 politicians, scientists, industry representatives and other experts from both countries. All full member institutions of the FGU are directly represented in the Assembly of Member Universities, gathering for yearly meetings.
Funding for the FGU is provided by the French and German governments equally, and has steadily been increased since the institution's early days.

Activity

The university primarily enables double degrees at French and German universities, international

doctorates A doctorate (from Latin ''docere'', "to teach"), doctor's degree (from Latin ''doctor'', "teacher"), or doctoral degree is an academic degree awarded by universities and some other educational institutions, derived from the ancient formalism ''l ...

, and cooperative research projects; supporting mobility and communication between the countries. In 2022 the Franco-German University is responsible for more than 6,300 students in 189 courses of study. Most students come from either France or Germany, but some foreign students participate as well. Out of the FGU's 213 member or partner universities and colleges (including ''

grandes écoles Grandes may refer to: *Agustín Muñoz Grandes Agustín Muñoz Grandes (27 January 1896 – 11 July 1970) was a Spanish general, and politician, vice-president of the Spanish Government and minister with Francisco Franco several times; also know ...

'' and ''

Fachhochschule A ''Fachhochschule'' (; plural ''Fachhochschulen''), abbreviated FH, is a university of applied sciences (UAS), in other words a German tertiary education institution that provides professional education in many applied sciences and applied art ...

n'' in addition to traditional universities), 32 partner institutions are located in third countries — predominantly in Europe, but also Canada, Japan and Morocco. The university has been called "a remarkable umbrella organization enabling numerous French and German higher education institutions to successfully cooperate in all research areas" by the director of the

Franco-German Institute The Deutsch-Französisches Institut (DFI) is an independent non-profit organization devoted to research on and documentation of contemporary Franco-German relations. The institute is funded by the German Foreign Office, the regional government ...

Frank Baasner, and its contribution to the history of Franco-German cooperation recognised.

References

External links

* * {{authority control France–Germany relations Universities and colleges in France Universities and colleges in Germany International college and university associations and consortia College and university associations and consortia in Europe Educational institutions established in 1997 1997 establishments in Europe Saarbrücken

History and organisation

Activity

See also

References

External links